Read & explore together
What Makes a Person Unclean
Jesus answers a dispute about handwashing by showing a deeper issue. He contrasts human tradition with God’s commandment, then explains that real defilement comes from within a person, not from food or unwashed hands.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
In Matthew and Mark, Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem question Jesus because his disciples eat with unwashed hands. Mark explains that this washing belonged to the tradition of the elders and that many washings were observed. Jesus answers first with Scripture, then with a public saying, and finally with a private explanation to his disciples.
Matthew 15:1–20; Mark 7:1–15; Mark 7:17–23Main takeaway
Jesus teaches that a person is defiled by evil that comes from the heart, not by eating with unwashed hands.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The complaint about unwashed handsPharisees and scribes ask why Jesus’ disciples do not follow the tradition of the elders by washing before eating.
Explanation
Pharisees and scribes ask why Jesus’ disciples do not follow the tradition of the elders by washing before eating. Mark adds helpful detail, explaining that these washings were established practices and included other items too. The issue raised is not dirt alone, but religious tradition about what counts as defiled.
02Jesus exposes tradition that overrides God’s wordJesus replies by asking why they disobey God’s commandment because of tradition. He gives the example of honouring father and mother.
Explanation
Jesus replies by asking why they disobey God’s commandment because of tradition. He gives the example of honouring father and mother. In their teaching about a gift devoted to God, help could be withheld from parents. Jesus says this makes God’s word void. He then quotes Isaiah about lips that honour God while the heart is far away.
03Jesus gives the crowd the main pointJesus calls the multitude to listen carefully. He says a person is not defiled by what enters from outside, but by what proceeds out.
Explanation
Jesus calls the multitude to listen carefully. He says a person is not defiled by what enters from outside, but by what proceeds out. Matthew records that the Pharisees were offended. Jesus warns that blind guides lead others into danger, so offence does not cancel the truth of his teaching.
04The explanation points to the heartWhen the disciples ask for an explanation, Jesus says food passes through the body and does not enter the heart.
Explanation
When the disciples ask for an explanation, Jesus says food passes through the body and does not enter the heart. What comes out of a person reveals the heart. He lists evil thoughts and actions such as theft, false testimony, pride and blasphemy. These are what defile a person, not eating with unwashed hands.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Matthew 15:1–20 | The complaint about unwashed hands Jesus exposes tradition that overrides God’s word Jesus gives the crowd the main point The explanation points to the heart |
| Mark | Mark 7:1–15 Mark 7:17–23 | The complaint about unwashed hands Jesus exposes tradition that overrides God’s word Jesus gives the crowd the main point The explanation points to the heart |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Jesus show the difference between God’s commandment and the tradition of the elders?
Look at his example about honouring father and mother and how a vowed gift could be used to avoid helping parents.
02What does Jesus say actually defiles a person?
Compare his short saying to the crowd with his fuller explanation to the disciples about the heart.
03Why does Jesus quote Isaiah in this discussion?
Notice the contrast between outward words and an inward heart that is far from God.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 15:1–20
1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
2“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
4For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
5But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,”
6he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
7You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
8‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’ ”
10He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand.
11That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
12Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.
14Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”
16So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand?
17Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body?
18But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.
19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
20These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”
Mark 7:1–15
1Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.
2Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault.
3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
4They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
5The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”
6He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8“For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
9He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
11But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,” ’ ” that is to say, given to God,
12“then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,
13making void the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down. You do many things like this.”
14He called all the multitude to himself and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.
15There is nothing from outside of the man that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
Mark 7:17–23
17When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
18He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him,
19because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, making all foods clean?”
20He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.
21For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
22covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
23All these evil things come from within and defile the man.”